Motor Bike Expo 2014 LIVE – The Cafè racer according to Free Spirit

A historic motorcycle. Competing with English sportswomen. And without fairings. Obviously we're talking about one cafe racer and what coffee! It can't be blacker. A motorcycle created with the intent ofexaltation of the sporting spirit and dynamic characteristics. As? Through an intimate relationship with the motorbike, scrutinizing its naked techniques, breathing in its racing smell. This sensorial amalgam was created by the masters of sports cafe racers, the guys at Free Spirit, which led to the Motor Bike Expo 2014 a super Sportster 883...but all that remains of the name is the glory of the past and a few pieces here and there, now it is XL Thunderstorm 90.

Instruction manual? Nobody. Only passion, only time (even Christmas Eve!), time forging a cafe racer different from the others. A goal. The search for maximum driving pleasure that a custom can offer, clear sporting ambitions in cafe racer style, and all coming from a Harley-Davidson 883. To solve the technical-spiritual enigma, the riding position was immediately put under scrutiny. Therefore, the interventions concerned...no, let's be frank, there is no longer any trace of the Sportster driving position. The torso is now loaded forward without restraint, the half handlebars are under the tank, supported by plates machined from solid material by Free Spirit, as are the essential adjustable footrests taller and further back Superbike style. The USD fork comes from an XR1200R and features new hydraulics and valves.

Let's slide our gaze towards "the back", there's the engine, a gem, a show, we'll talk about it later... Let's get caught up in the preciousness of the swingarm, decomposable, also machined from solid, simple and essential but that's fine, revised in the dimensions for host a “200” and to exactly remodulate the "chain tension" by aligning the final belt. Two ammo Bitubo they support the rear axle, connected to the frame via two risers - needless to say - machined from solid material (the CNC milling machine worked overtime!), which in a café style perspective raise a little bottom specially designed to be looked at as it should be, and also , by virtue of the performance, it benefits stability and driveability. The 17" Kineo rims are appropriately spoked, of high quality Italian manufacturing, patented to use tubeless tyres.

It doesn't seem true in this triumph of exaltation of the handmade, but the frame remains stock and hosts the hyper-vitaminized V-Twin 883 which increases to 90 cubic inches, or 1.470 cm3 with the collaboration of Civico 10 experts, specialized in HD engines. Now the transmission primary is visible and it is that of a Buell adapted to the new housing. The revolutionized big-twin breathes through a waterproof SF conical filter connected to the throttle body with a purpose-built manifold: this alone is worth 2,5 horsepower. The large pistons explode their sounds from the new exhaust system. The exhaust gases must travel through a sinuous circuit of stainless steel pipes, and then exit from a titanium silencer under the tail. A splendid gun, very racing.

To enhance the handling skills, they were even the elastic supports have been revised in engine rubber, responsible for the propagation of the legendary "Good Vibration" to the rider; new aluminum supports created ad hoc give precision in hard riding, stiffening the bike and blocking the twin's jerks well.

All this verve does not create problems when squeezing the brake lever, two discs have been combined with the original calipers 320 mm floating. In this set of "homemade" parts we must also mention the license plate holder and the indicators. The chromatic look is, come on, matt total black! With the vintage leather saddle providing a shy contrast to its aged red.

In short, what can I say, Thunderstorm, a word that already speaks volumes, now the Sportster passes from an essential motorbike, to an aggressive and muscular sport café racer. If you want to see up close, knock on the door of the Free Spirit guys…